How To Paint Eyes In Photoshop

To someone who wants to paint photorealism for the first time, A blank canvas can be extremely daunting. Further more how the hell do you paint eyes in photoshop without using reference. This is partly what I aim to teach. I was inspired by all the tutorials of how to paint eyes in photoshop. I noticed video after video where the artist just traced the eye, then copied the reference image. Which to me isn’t how to paint eyes in photoshop, Its how to copy an image the easiest way possible.

Its like one of those youtube marketers that says, I’m gonna show you how to make one million in one month. Then you find out they’re one hundred grand in debt. If you can’t paint a reference image without tracing it, then it doesnt count. Even more so, if you’re showing people how to draw eyes while tracing, just stop. Stop or change the title to speed painting and talk about your image.

So anyway, in this video I’ll show you how to paint eyes in photoshop, realistically and without reference. Although Keep in mind this video was done quite some time ago, back before photoshop even had a mixing brush. But even so the principals and process remain the same, so I know you’ll get a lot out of it:).

Another Way To Think About Painting

Beyond everything I’ll tell you in this video, the best way to get better is practice. Think of learning painting as you would approach learning guitar. It doesnt matter who you are, the first time you learn an instrument like guitar, nothing will sound right.

We all know how to play guitar and draw, we have all seen enough people do it. With guitar you put your finger on a fret and strum, In drawing you move a pencil mindfully across paper. Both acts are extremely simple, but what comes next? What note do you play after? In what direction do you move your pencil. This is truely what you’re learning… What do I need to do next, to achieve what it is I want.

You could learn how to play a couple of songs in only a few weeks if you wanted. The same way you could also teach yourself to create semi-realistic paintings in only a few weeks. Now if you can achieve those two feats in weeks, imagine years. Continual progress though thought and practice, this is how you master your art.

This video was done 6 years ago, it’s nothing compared to what I can do now. Now Imaging what you will be like in 6 years if you truly try…pretty damn good I wadger.

Also I really tried to pack in as much infomation as possible, as a result I ended up talking fast. So if at any point you didn’t quite understand something. Either rewind, of feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you:)